The Evening Sun - Faulkner

The short story "That Evening Sun" by William Faulkner displays his essential ideas from his speech.  In his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech Faulkner states that a writer can "help man endure by lifting his heart" by writing about courage, honor, hope, pride, sacrifice, compassion, and pity.  These are evident in his short story.  The short story takes place in the south where whites are racist towards blacks.  Courage is displayed through Nancy, a black woman who stands up for herself when she knows she is just being used and cheated.  "When are you going to pay me white man?  It's been three times now since you paid me a cent--" (page 168)  This illustrates how Nancy has courage because back then blacks held no status, especially in the South, however she knows that she is going to receive some sort of punishment.  Her courage is seen through her confronting this white man of high status in front of many people.  Although Nancy is showing courage here, she also expresses pity towards herself when she keeps repeating, "I ain't nothing but a nigger."  (page 170)  This illustrates how Nancy is still falling into the trap that the white people want blacks to believe: Whites are better than blacks.  She even got embarrassed in front of the town when Mr. Stovall knocked her on the ground and kicked her face in.  She expresses pity by saying that she is just a nigger and letting Caddy say that he is not a nigger.

Jason, one of the children in the story displays pride.  He displays pride by saying how he is better than Nancy and keeps referring to her as a nigger and that the white race is better than  the blacks.  Mr. Stovall also illustrates pride when he tries to display power and pride over Nancy by knocking her down and beating her up.  "I ain't a nigger.  Disley is a nigger too."  (page 170)  "Mr. Stovall knocked her down...kicked her mouth in with his heel..." (page 168)  Both of these quotes illustrate how Jason and Mr. Stovall express pride in the white race.  Father demonstrates compassion by walking Nancy home at night because he knows she is scared about Jesus coming to kill her.  "I'm going to walk down the lane with Nancy.  She says that Jesus is back." (page 169)  Here he displays his compassion because the father knows that Nancy is in fear of Jesus so he wants to make sure she feels safe.  Father is also the only person in the short story that seems to treat the black people with respect even though he is white.  All the other white people in the short story some how indicate that white people are better than black people.